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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

TTC with PCOS

14 replies

WanOvaryKenobi · 31/08/2022 18:38

Hi everyone,

I recently did a blood test with Hertility and my AMH levels came back as extremely high (64 pmol/l), which combined with physical symptoms has pretty much confirmed PCOS.

I have an appointment with my GP next week as I would like a referral to Gynaecology. Currently not on any HBC, and no joy conceiving. Ideally I would like to be put on Metformin as soon as possible.

I am 30 and based in Glasgow, if that helps.

So I just want to ask, what is the official process of getting diagnosed with PCOS and receiving treatment on the NHS? How should I broach the topic with my GP? What have your experience with PCOS diagnosis and treatment been like? I really do not want to keep waiting much longer and I am concerned that if I say I am TTC I will be told to just keep trying (which is not helpful as I am not ovulating).

Doing all of the recommended diet and exercise, and tracking everything with NaturalCycles and my Oura Ring.

I also want to hear from women that have similar AMH levels as I cannot find much online in that range.

Feeling a bit sad and lost too, so all comments welcome.

Thank you.

OP posts:
AliceinSlumberland · 31/08/2022 18:46

My experience was a little bit different as I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years before we started trying but basically it was diagnosed via blood tests and a scan of my ovaries.

When we started trying I knew I wasn’t ovulating. After 6 months I told a white lie and said it had been a year - there was absolutely no point waiting another 6 months if I wasn’t ovulating. I then got referred to gynae and had an appointment around 4 months later. He prescribed me metformin - my GP had said she couldn’t do this and even if she could there was no evidence it would work especially as my BMI is normal. Luckily enough it worked like a charm and 4 cycles later I’m 7 weeks pregnant. I also take Inofolic Alpha alongside metformin which I think really helped.

IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 31/08/2022 20:41

How long have you been trying? They will absolutely not refer to fertility clinic if less than a year, even if it's clear you aren't ovulating. The GP should do day 3 and day 21 bloods.

They will refer to gynaecology at the moment based on no periods/cycles and AMH. All gynae did for me was US scan and say "possibly PCOS". I then still had to wait the year for the fertility referral.

Once you get to the fertility clinic (approx 2 months wait from referral) they'll do a whole load more assessments. This includes semen analysis, scan. They'll want to do a hycosy - if you can pay privately as the list is over 9 months wait at present

After all that, they can then offer letrozole. They'll work up the doses to see if they can get it to work. Means there may be some cycles at the start where you don't ovulate.

Source: trying to conceive for 2 yrs 8 mo in Glasgow

IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 31/08/2022 20:41

You can take Myo inositol for now - it can regulate cycles in PCOS.

Original poster
WanOvaryKenobi · 02/09/2022 14:07

AliceinSlumberland · 31/08/2022 18:46

My experience was a little bit different as I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years before we started trying but basically it was diagnosed via blood tests and a scan of my ovaries.

When we started trying I knew I wasn’t ovulating. After 6 months I told a white lie and said it had been a year - there was absolutely no point waiting another 6 months if I wasn’t ovulating. I then got referred to gynae and had an appointment around 4 months later. He prescribed me metformin - my GP had said she couldn’t do this and even if she could there was no evidence it would work especially as my BMI is normal. Luckily enough it worked like a charm and 4 cycles later I’m 7 weeks pregnant. I also take Inofolic Alpha alongside metformin which I think really helped.

Thank you for this, and congratulations!

OP posts:
Original poster
WanOvaryKenobi · 02/09/2022 14:08

IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 31/08/2022 20:41

How long have you been trying? They will absolutely not refer to fertility clinic if less than a year, even if it's clear you aren't ovulating. The GP should do day 3 and day 21 bloods.

They will refer to gynaecology at the moment based on no periods/cycles and AMH. All gynae did for me was US scan and say "possibly PCOS". I then still had to wait the year for the fertility referral.

Once you get to the fertility clinic (approx 2 months wait from referral) they'll do a whole load more assessments. This includes semen analysis, scan. They'll want to do a hycosy - if you can pay privately as the list is over 9 months wait at present

After all that, they can then offer letrozole. They'll work up the doses to see if they can get it to work. Means there may be some cycles at the start where you don't ovulate.

Source: trying to conceive for 2 yrs 8 mo in Glasgow

Oh no...that's so frustrating. And so unfair!

OP posts:
Original poster
WanOvaryKenobi · 02/09/2022 14:09

IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 31/08/2022 20:41

You can take Myo inositol for now - it can regulate cycles in PCOS.

I've just bought some, thank you for the recommendation.

OP posts:
IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 02/09/2022 16:04

I used the private gcrm clinic to do some assessments if you'd like any info on that @WanOvaryKenobi

Also, if you have an early loss at any point in the process, I'd be tempted not to tell them. Any conception restarts that year long clock, even if it ends in a loss. We had one conception after 6 months trying that ended at 11 weeks and had to wait another whole year after the loss.

Original poster
WanOvaryKenobi · 02/09/2022 16:14

I am so sorry for your loss @IWillBeWaxingAnOwl

Yes please, any information at all is welcome. I contacted a private hospital who said they won't see me without a GP referral (???) so I'm hoping I can get that through my GP. I'm still a bit confused as to why, and also worried that I won't get referred to the NHS Gynaecological services if they know I'm planning on getting some testing done privately. The whole process seems to be designed to be as confusing as possible!

OP posts:
IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 02/09/2022 16:15

The gcrm clinic will do an assessment package for £500 (semen, bloods, AMH, scans) and hycosy for another £600. They were professional and quick and NHS took their results for me too. They were much more informative than NHS gynaecology too!

IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 02/09/2022 16:17

I only mentioned private testing at the initial appt with NHS fertility clinic (not the same as gynecology) and they were fine about it - means they have to do less assessment!

Original poster
WanOvaryKenobi · 02/09/2022 17:30

Thank you so much for the info. Did you need a referral letter from your GP for the assessment at GCRM?

OP posts:
IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 02/09/2022 17:33

Nope, not at all @WanOvaryKenobi - they do write back to gp with results but you don't need any referral.

Original poster
WanOvaryKenobi · 02/09/2022 17:42

Thank you!

The reviews on Google are really terrible 😐

OP posts:
IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 02/09/2022 21:01

They are yeah! I went with them and not GRI private as GRI just never replied ...

I had a good experience with GCRM private and am now having a good (but slow) experience with NHS GRI

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